Property Rights or Property Wrongs?

Do you have the right to shoot anyone who unlawfully breaks into your home?
How about someone who pulls threateningly into your driveway?
What about someone who walks across your well manicured lawn?

Well, Charles Martin of Batavia, Ohio took umbrage with a teenager beating a path across his well kept lawn and decided to take matters into his own hands. The following story from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution brings a pretty ugly episode to light:

BATAVIA, Ohio — A man who neighbors say was devoted to his meticulously kept lawn was charged with murder in the shooting of a 15-year-old boy who apparently walked across his yard.

Charles Martin called 911 on Sunday afternoon, saying calmly: "I just killed a kid."

Police, who released the call's contents, said Martin also told the dispatcher: "I've been harassed by him and his parents for five years. Today just blew it up."

Larry Mugrage, whose family lived next door, was shot in the chest with a shotgun. The high school freshman was pronounced dead at a hospital.

Martin, 66, allegedly told police he had several times had problems with neighbors walking on his lawn. He remained jailed without bond Monday. His jailers said no attorney was listed for him.

Neighbors said Martin lived alone quietly, often sitting in front of his one-story home with its neat lawn, well-trimmed shrubbery and flag pole with U.S. and Navy flags flying.

Joanne Ritchie, 46, said Mugrage was known as "a good kid," but she always also considered Martin to be friendly.

Union Township is near Batavia, about 20 miles east of Cincinnati.

I'm not a lawyer, so I'm not sure if there is a precedent for this or if this guy even has a legal leg to stand on. But it does bring into question the notion of property and privacy rights in the United States. Remember the Randy Weaver and Ruby Ridge debacle in 1992 where a federal marshall was killed by a family who claimed to be defending their property. Maybe someone can shed some light on the matter.